Festivals
Lakshmi Puja on Diwali: A Simple Guide
What to prepare, the order of the puja, and the aarti
Diwali is the darkest night of the month of Kartik. We light lamps so that Lakshmi, the goddess of fortune and well-being, finds her way in — and we prepare the house and the heart to receive her.
Before the puja
- Clean the whole house; clean the puja space last.
- Set a chowki with a red cloth; place the murti or image of Lakshmi and Ganesha.
- Prepare a thali: roli, akshat, flowers, a ghee lamp, incense, naivedya (sweets), and coins.
The aarti
ॐ जय लक्ष्मी माता, मैया जय लक्ष्मी माता
oṃ jaya lakṣmī mātā, maiyā jaya lakṣmī mātā
Victory to you, Mother Lakshmi.
Perform the aarti with the family together, circling the lamp clockwise. Distribute prasad, and keep one lamp burning through the night.